The walls of the multi-purpose center in Trumbull Avenue, across the street from the apartment complex Trumbull gardens to play images from some of the best players in the NBA.
They are larger than life figures of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan and LeBron James poster.
Vin Baker is on the wall.
Maybe I could have been.
An NBA All-Star four times Baker had a 13-year career with six different teams and won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Sydney.
We could not. But as alcohol.
After what felt bad game Baker was depressed and would drink. He drank a lot. During the 2003-04 season with the Boston Celtics coach Jim O'Brien, then smelled alcohol on his breath 1 day in practice and met with Baker. He was suspended and eventually released. Over the next two seasons, was in the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets found against the Clippers in Los Angeles and finally to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2006, he was out of the league.
But in recent years, Baker was working for him back on track, about the dangers of alcohol. Wednesday, he took this message to children in the Gardens of Trumbull as part of a summer sports program, tutoring and life - networks calls - created by the Bridgeport Housing Authority.
custom jerseys
I just wanted a chance to not only share the positive, but negative. I think I left a lot inside and outside the court, Baker said. God blessed me with to do and don'ts and I, with my talent and ability, very successful with it, and unfortunately too much of what you do not kill. I wanted a chance for both sides with the children to say, share what not to do, come their way. Baker, 39, grew up in Old Saybrook and went to the University of Hartford, where he scored 2238 points, grabbed 951 rebounds and 279 blocked shots. He was the eighth pick in the first round of the 1993 NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie team and then four straight All-Star. In 2000 he won Olympic gold.
But then things started to go. After being released by Minnesota in 2006 - who has never played a game for the Timberwolves - Baker was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs in 2007. In 2008 his house was on the bench after losing more than $ 97 million, which he had taken note of during his career.
Why go this route? Baker can not lay a finger on a certain time, but said that the rate of success - money and fame - it could have been a problem. Now sober and mentally strong and is Baker going to tell their stories.
I do not share the experience of playing against Michael Jordan, but also experiences that revolve in the wrong direction can share with others, said Baker. It's important for me to be able to get young people to talk about it. I would not have this project when it was about basketball. The possibility of the problems I had in my life to speak is therapeutic to talk about . It gives me the opportunity to correct errors. I think I can young people help to Bridgeport to see all things and make them understand what can happen when you go in the wrong direction. Because of their history and their willingness to say to get Baker to form part of the new city networks - which eventually extended to PT
Barnum, Marina Village and FC Greene - was evident.
custom nfl jerseys
We knew Vin would not just star power, but the experience. Few people are more wine, said Shante Hanks, president of the Bridgeport home. It can affect children and focus on them. Above all, wants it. This is what you do and want you in Connecticut. He wants to teach athletic skills, but also wants them to talk about nature and spirituality. The is what we wanted. networking program begins with 5 July and lasts six weeks, according to Craig Davis, was the coordinator of the animation in the Gardens of Trumbull for the last four years. Between 30 and 70 children in the program running from Monday to Friday from 8.00 bis 16.00 clock clock
We want these children to the messages we try to hear out of it, said Davis. Sometimes it takes someone who has the experience to be to capture the attention of children. I think they will listen to Vin.
没有评论:
发表评论